Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-08-22

report it. The next morning the head !
Indian OF the house 10 which the child |
belonged was summoned to appear |
and answer fer the absence Of the tru-
ant, snd if such absence was
found to have been wiliful the head Iu- |
dian was fined or imorisoned few |
fines were found sufficient and had the ef- !
feet of procuring t. prompt and punCtual /!
attendance OF oil the children. This
means was found necessary in order TO
overcome ths snt;pethy Of the parents
against having their children educated, |
1nd thereby drawn away from the en-
Gent customs, traditions end methods
OF living of their race. This custom
has fallen into disuse since the es.G5-
lisAment q civil government il Mav,
1884. The parents lave come 10
know End understand the ben-
edts derived from tie education
Of their children, ard are now
quite ready 10 lend their assistance in
compelling them to attend the school.
The term CT school commences in Sep
tender Of each year and continues forty
four weeks. There are ten teachers and
l05 scholars, with shout equal proper
ton Of boys and girls ,iTuariug in age from
five TO eighteen years, and representing
the several tribes OF southeastern Alaska
They ere taught the primary English
branches, and the boys ere also il
structed in blacksmit1nG, cc3percge,
cabinet-mski0g and ca~pentery, while
.he gir,a are taught sewing, knitting,
cooking and yaliou; ether household Gu
ties
The building .eup.ei b7 the nj 81
aTe two IL number aud are large ana sue
stantiallg bull, having 6sen constructed
wholly by The boys Uf The school under
the supervision OF 4 white man, carpcn-
Ter. B0.h boys sad gjr'a appear exceed
iDgly ambitious 10 become seIt-su5,&Jn
ing end seem 10 fully appreciate the sd
vantages sforded them BY the school,
and many OF them ere Qalte proficient
in reading, spelling and wiring.
( Specimens Of their handwriting
were shown the Ho.ala CORE
spondent en- the blackboard, and they
were surprisingly good, clear and legibie.
! Tnc boys ere very apt in learning trades,
and many Of them ere aiready proficient
ia cabinet making, carpentry AID black-
smitbirg.
Probably the greatest OH &c. Of Interest
+ in Sllka 10 The tourl.t ID The Greek
/ church, which was founded by the
/ Russizu Governor, Alexander Bar81oft,
about ninety yeaEs $50. and j. now
presided over by Father Do2skoy, z
Russian priest, sent mere &tost s;X
months ago IRON Siberia by the
Russian government which PAYS his
salary, While the current expenses OF The
church are borne by the congregation
. With occasional donations from private
sources The congregation consists Of
about 500 members, the majority If whom
are Indians. The building used i9 plain,
simple and Of necessity CID fashioned and
o! architectural design peculiar TO the
people by whom and the time Ia whiCl Il
vas built. II is exceedingly cdd, end
viii Immediately attract The acteg-
ton Of 6 stranger. the inteyiCr it
tiEgs ere rare and costly, Some OF the
paintings are said to be from 80 10
200 years old, and were dCnated by Rus
sian ncAlem5D, while The imagery o.
church history is profuse and elaborate
and composed Of solid gold and silver
and precious stones. One piece, OF the
dimensions Oi two feet square, was OF
solid gold, the va3ue Of Wh.ca was Ia
known to the warden in charge, Mr.. Kos
trOmetjnoff, through whose courtesy the
Herald ceres pendent WAS permitted to
inspect the interior Of the church and It's
fittings Another piece, The statue Of St.
Michael, q present from c Russian
prince, ITas forty-eiSht By twelve
inches, also Of solid sold, tie value OF
which was unknown The priests crown
Wss of solid gold, studded with diamonds,
sGpphir5s, ruoies and pearls, and IS Ssiu
10 have cost $50 ,00J In addition 10
these we're many II gold sLd silver rep
resentipg different church characters,
while the pot of incense was OF solid sill
yer. Immediately in the rear OF the
chancel are two large folding doors
about seven and half fest high, called
"Royal Gltts," opening into the
sanctuary. These doors are
almost solid mass OF inlsid gold, silver
and precious stones, the panels beirg IN
SOLID gold bas-relIef figures representing
Christ, the Madonna and m&ny OF the ole
saints, while Immediately over the doors
IS piece # solid silver Jour feet long
and eighteen inches wide representing the
Lords supper" The priests vestmeuts
ere of marvellous richness, and were IL tGe
by the nuns in Prussia. They are OF the
finest silk and satin fabric ,inwrougbt with
gold and silver, snd ere s2id to be more
than two hundred years old. Their ap-
; pearsnce certainly justiies the statement
TIE churca was robbed in 1876 by the
nited States soldiers stationed at Silks,
VINO carried away many OF the most va,u-
able pieces, watch were sfterward found
secreted under the military hospital built.
i'm, and were recovered, but not Until
; many Of the diamonds and ether valuable
stones had been removed. The building
is now guarded oy day and night.